Grain-scourer



(No Model.)

0. B. SLATER.

GRAIN SGOURER.

N0. 343,402. Patented June 8, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES B. SLATER, OF BLANOHESTER, OHIO.

GRAlN-SCOURER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,402, dated June 8,1886.

Application filed January 28, 1886. Serial No. 190,033. (No model.)

under treatment between the scouring-plates rying the scourer-blade maybe made.

and the perforated case, so that all the grain will be continuallybrought under theaction of the scourers from the time it enters themachine until it is discharged. Its object is also to provide animproved means by which the scouring blades will automatically adjustthemselves with relation to the cylinder, according to the quantity ofgrain passing through the machine, and hold the grain between the bladesand cylinder with yielding pressure.

The invention will befirst fully described in connection with theaccompanying drawings, inwhich the same or like parts are indicated bythe same reference-letters wherever they occur throughout the variousviews, and then particularly referred to, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal view through the case of a verticalmachine provided with my improvements, one side of the revolvingscourers being shown in elevation and the opposite side in centralvertical section. Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken through line a: xof Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view in detail of one of thescouringblades, the shaft, and hub to which it is secured. This viewillustrates my preferred form of scourer-blade. Figs. 4. and 5 aredetail views of a modified form of my invention, Fig. 4 being a plan,and Fig. 5 a rear side elevation. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail viewsillustrating another modification, Fig. 6 being a plan, and Fig. 7 alongitudinal elevation, of the shaft, hub, and springarm, thescouringblade be ng shown in longitudinal section. Fig. 8 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 7, illustrating another form in which'the spring-arm forcar- Fig.

9 is a plan view looking upon the under side of the plate or cap of therevolving scourer. A represents the frame of the machine; B, thehousing; 0, the driving-shaft; D, the suction-fan or exhaust; E, theperforated cylinder, and e and 6 its ends. lhese parts do not differfrom the machines now in common use. A detail description of them istherefore not necessary.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, F

is a polygonal hub secured upon the shaft (J, to the flat sides of whichhub are secured in any suitable manner the curved-spring scourers G.These are preferably made of springsteel, and extend from the huboutward in proximity to the perforated cylinder E. The scouring-surfacesg, which form the outer portions of the plates, may be made perforated,corrugated, or roughened in any approved manner, or brushes may beattached either to all or part of the blades, if desired. I have shownin the drawings six of these curved spring-blades to work within thecylinder; but the number may be varied according to the work required,and the curve of the blades may also be varied from the form shown inthe drawings-for instance, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 2as I donot desire to limit myself to any particular form of curve. Thedish-shaped plate H has a downwardly-pro jecting flange, h, whichoverhangs the edges of the scouring-blades and prevents their contactwith the cylinder E. This plate has also, as shown in Fig. 9,perforations h, through which the grain is fed into the scourers. Thespider I has upturned flange 'i, for the same purpose as flange h uponplate H.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5, instead of the curved steelplate G, two series of narrow spring-bands, G, are employed at oppositeends of the case, upon the outer ends of which are securedscouring-plates K. The ends of these plates are rabbeted, as shown at k,and the flanges h i overlap their diminished ends and prevent the platesK from being thrown so far out by centrifugal force as to strike thecylinder E. The hubs F in this case need only be as long as the width ofthe spring-arms.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the spring-arms G2 differfrom those shown in Figs. 4 and 5 in their mode of attachment to thehubs F and plates K, being secured to the hubs and plates at a rightangle to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In Fig. 8 the spring-arm eis also a narrow steel strip,like G and G, but is S-shaped,instead ofasiniple curve.

In Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the shaft 0 rotates in the direction of thearrows, the curved seourers being tangential to the case, so that thespaces between the sconrers and case taper from the feed to thedischargethat is, the leading edges of the revolving scourers arefarther from the case than the following edges. In operation the grainis therefore crowded between the scouringsurfaccs and case and moresurely forced through between them and brought under their rubbingaction, as there is no chance for the grain to be forced ahead of theplates. The scouring plates K, or brushes, when used. are also securedupon the ends of the spring-arms, tangential to the circumference of thecase, for the same purpose. The hubs F I!" may be dispensed with and theinner ends or edges of the scouring-arms secured directly to the shaft,which in such case is better if made polygonal between its bearings; butthis is a matter of mechanical coir struction merely.

In fitting my device for use, the springs, whether made in the shape ofa single curve extending from end to end of the scouringcylinder or of aseries of curved arms, as shown, should be made so that when the machineis at rest the seourers will bear with some pressure against the flangesh i, and this pressure should be stronger when the plate G is used, asthe atmospheric resistance acts againstthe centrifugal force and tendsto throw the outer ends of the plates nearer to the axis of revolution.This form I prefer to use, because the grain is constantly thrownoutward by the plates and no grain isliable to fall down within thescourers and thus escape their action, the plates G inside of thescouring-surfaces, in fact, acting as heaters.

The machine shown is vertical, but it may also be used in the horizontalposition. In such case the convex surfaces of the plates should beprovided with light ribs spirally arranged, to carry the material undertreatment from the feed to the discharge end of the machine.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a grainscourer, the combination, substantially as specified, of aperforated cylinder, the scourer shaft, the spider I, and cap IL securedto said shaft and having flanges h i, the curved spring-metal armssecured to the shaft, and the scouring-plates carried by thespring-arms, as set forth.

2. The combination, substantially as here inbefore set forth, in agmin-scourer, of the perforated cylinder, the shaft 0, automatic selfadjusting spring seourers secured to said shaft, the cap H, perforatedat h to admit the grain, and having flange It, and the spider I, havingflange i, to receive the impact of the sconrers and protect thecylinder.

CHARLES B. SLATER.

\Vitnesses:

Gno. J. DJIURRAY, DAVID S. OLIVER.

